CHRIS SUTTON has labelled Cameron Carter-Vickers’ comments after the derby defeat at Parkhead last weekend as “disgraceful”.
The central defender stated Celtic had been “too random” as they crashed to their first Premiership reverse of the season which appeared to be criticism of the team’s tactical approach.
Sutton hit back at Carter-Vickers and insisted it was “a cop-out” by the USA international defender.
The former Hoops goal hero said: “There’s been a lot of focus on Martin O’Neill ’s future in the wake of Celtic’s recent results.
“It’s understandable, with him voicing doubts about continuing in the role. But that doesn’t mean the finger-pointing should all be on O’Neill.
MAKING A POINT…Cameron Carter-Vickers during the Premier Sports League Cup defeat.
“We all know there are problems with a lack of leadership and direction at the top of the tree. But the players also need to take some responsibility.
“Unlike Cameron Carter-Vickers last weekend.
“I’ve been a huge admirer of him over the years and I’ve constantly sung his praises.
“But his comments after the Rangers defeat were disgraceful.
“Carter-Vickers spoke about the random way of playing, the messaging and stuff about freezing on the pitch because players being unsure of where they were meant to run.
“It was a cop-out. Whether he meant it or not, he was passing the buck back to the manager and the coaches – and it’s not on. It was pathetic.
“You might feel that way in private, but the place to air those thoughts is in-house rather than in public.
“It was a tough enough situation, but Carter-Vickers just chucked petrol on the flames.
“The Martin O’Neill of 25 years ago wouldn’t have stood for it, that’s for sure. Carter-Vickers’ feet wouldn’t have touched the floor.
Sutton, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “I get the fact Celtic have issues tactically and I’m not saying O’Neill has got his selections or tactics bang-on every single time.
“It all goes back to the problems higher up the club, though. Is O’Neill changing formation and line-ups because he wants to – or because he has to?
HITTING THE BOTTLE…a pensive Martin O’Neill looks on as Celtic toil at Ibrox.
“He was badly let down in the transfer window and it’s left the squad with glaring deficiencies.
“The last thing he needs is key members of his dressing room revolting in public.
“At what point are they going to step up and take ownership of some of the problems?
“Top professionals can smell danger, they can sense when things are not working and they take appropriate action.
“They don’t need to be spoon-fed absolutely everything or held by the hand for 90 minutes.
“Yes, there are instructions from the sidelines and in pre-match preparations there are structures of play, patterns for pressing and so on.
“But there are plenty of times when games do not go to plan and you don’t go bleating to the dug-out for answers every single time.
“You sort it out.”
Captain Callum McGregor did not escape the attention of Sutton, either.
Some remarks from the experienced midfielder brought a rebuke from the one-time England international forward.
Sutton added: “Carter-Vickers is 28 years old, Callum McGregor is 33 – they are not 12.
“You can’t tell me these guys can’t make decisions on the field and affect games without a coach drawing them a map.
A TOUGH WATCH…Callum McGregor and Cameron Carter-Vickers look on as Dan Neil scores his second goal in the Premier Sports League Cup flop in Govan.
“It’s almost like they were so programmed under Brendan Rodgers and Ange Postecoglou that they can’t think for themselves.
“You don’t need to be told to track runners, win tackles or work out that if you can’t pass through a team then you need to go over them.
“I couldn’t help but notice McGregor before the Rangers game talking about O’Neill’s first spell at Celtic and saying we liked to go direct.
“I have huge respect for McGregor, but he was miles out.
“Yes, we could go direct, but there was variation in our game.
“Does he think we lumped the ball up to Lubo Moravcik all the time?
“We could mix it up and that’s exactly what Celtic need right now. They need to find a way, that’s for sure.
“We don’t know what’s going to unfold with O’Neill, but if he is up for going on, there will need to be some full and frank conversations in that dressing room.
“Martin will need to fix the roof while the rain is pouring in, but he did it last year and will have to again now.
“He can’t do it all on his own, though, as the players need to step up and stop looking for excuses.”
The champions are still reeling following three unacceptable defeats in eight miserable days, a Europa League 3-1 nosedive to Ferencvaros at Parkhead book-ended by losses to Derek McInnes’ team in the Premier Sports League Cup quarter-final and the Premiership.
O’Neill watched his side fail to land a glove on the Govan club home and away with just TWO shots on traget over both games.
Carter-Vickers, McGregor and their team-mates will get the opportunity to provide answers when Celtic go back into action against Motherwell at Fir Park on Sunday October 11.
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